Author Topic: .30/30 pointed bullets in the nef (Read 1319 times)

thelaw · « **on:** August 31, 2004, 05:14:41 AM »

wondering if anyone has experiemented with pointed bullets like the nosler 125gr. BTs or 150gr. hornady spire points with the nef. will these bullets be an adequate deer load for the .30/30? i figured with a little increase in muzzle velocity the .30/30 should be quite the thumper. what kind of velocity do you think is possible?

snowbound one · « **Reply #1 on:** August 31, 2004, 06:45:46 AM »

I have in the past did extensive bullet testing with the pointed and different weights in the 30-30 NEF. I will dig out the data and post it..It was in the old days posted on the old "NEF" website before they shut it down...........SB

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #2 on:** August 31, 2004, 08:41:26 AM »

You'd want to be careful about bullet selection. Many of the 125s are varmint bullets and too fragile for deer while some of the 150s are designed for much higher velocities and are too hard for a .30-30. The Hornady and Nosler 150s have reputations as being very soft and would be my choices.

A quick look at my Lee 2nd edition says that you can approach 2500 fps with 150s and break 2600 fps with 125s. In 125 grain, I'd be tempted to use one of the .310 bullets designed for the 7.62x39. They are designed for just under .30-30 speeds and are not oversized enough to really matter.

Fred M · « **Reply #3 on:** August 31, 2004, 10:41:24 AM »

Leftoverdj
You must be talking about the Rem 125gr PSP in.310. Yes I think think the would work perfect, especially if you have an oversize barrel like mine.

There is a guy Sourdough in Alaska who hunts caribou with a 125 Speer TNT. in a 30-06. These should really work well in a 30-30. Fred M.

JPH45 · « **Reply #4 on:** August 31, 2004, 12:00:48 PM »

The Hornady SST series are good bullets for the 30-30 too. I am using the 150 SST pushing it a 2360 fps which makes for a trajectory that is 2" hing at 100 and 2" low at 200, perfect for any shooting I wil be doing. The 30-30 in the Handi could be loaded hotter than for a lever, but go up carefully. I don't think 2500 fps is an unreasonable figure at all for 150's from a Handi.

Major · « **Reply #5 on:** September 02, 2004, 09:37:52 AM »

Another thing you can do to help those bullets perform better, since you reload anyway, is to up the velocity a bit (about 150 fps) by converting the rifle into an Ackley Improved. That way none of your hot pointed bullet loads will accidentally make it into a lever gun with a tube magazine.

Longcruise · « **Reply #6 on:** September 02, 2004, 10:06:38 AM »

The Hornaday 165 SST worked very well in my Handi and so did the Rem 180 Core Lokt.

I killed a hog with a 180 core lokt at about 2300 fps from one of my Swiss K31's and the bullet performed very well. OTOH, the hog was pretty close :-)

My choice would be for a Nosler partiiton 150 or 165 for deer and 180 for larger game. While they are designed to retain weight and penetrate, the nose is soft and will open at the lower end velocities. Just my untested opinion though.

I may carry my NEF 30-30 for elk this year since most of my shots are up close and personal in the dark timber. If it goes with me it'll probably be loaded with 180 Partitions.

JPH45 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 03, 2004, 03:00:57 PM »

Longcruise, I have a box of 180 Partitions and have wondered if the 30-30 would push 'em fast enough to make em open. Have you done any experimenting along this course, or seen any real results? I like the SST because of the trajectory. It gives me a point blank range of 200 yards, which is absolutely perfect for my hunting conditions, I don't have shot opportunities past 200 yards. But a 180 if it would open up quick enough would put a hurt on a whitetail.

safetysheriff · « **Reply #8 on:** September 04, 2004, 02:25:31 PM »

t'law,

The Sierra's probably open up more quickly than the Speer or Hornady's do. That might be one avenue. Another avenue, if your rifle bore is Very Smooth, would be some single-shot pistol bullets which are made to open up at lower velocities. They should be easy to find in .30 caliber. They require a smooth bore to keep their thin jackers from being torn-up. I'd experiment with those.....but wouldn't guarantee that a Handi's bore is smooth enough for them. It could take some work to smooth out some of these Handi's.

Take care.

James B · « **Reply #9 on:** September 04, 2004, 02:54:45 PM »

I had good luck with my old 30-30 NEF with 125 grain Ballistic tips. They performed well at 30-30 velocities. I need to get a new 30-30 barrel as I don't have one right now. I should send in my 44 mag for a 30-30 barrel.

Longcruise · « **Reply #10 on:** September 06, 2004, 11:11:43 AM »

Quote

Longcruise, I have a box of 180 Partitions and have wondered if the 30-30 would push 'em fast enough to make em open. Have you done any experimenting along this course, or seen any real results?

No first hand knowledge on my part. I remeber reading some years back that the partition is designed to expand down to 1800 fps. Don't even remember where it was written, so take that FWIW :-)

A phone call to Nosler could shed some light. I'll try to give them a call after the holiday and will let you know what they say.